U.S. patent number 10,448,719 [Application Number 15/394,655] was granted by the patent office on 2019-10-22 for travel device.
The grantee listed for this patent is Dustin Coury. Invention is credited to Dustin Coury.
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United States Patent |
10,448,719 |
Coury |
October 22, 2019 |
Travel device
Abstract
A novel travel device and method of storing items are disclosed.
The travel device may comprise a top shell joined to a bottom shell
to form a container. A sleeve may be removably attached to the top
and bottom shells but is preferably fixed to the interior of the
container. The sleeve acts a second container for holding items
such as dirty clothes. Clean clothes may be placed in the remaining
portion of the interior of the first container thereby keeping the
dirty clothes separate from the clean ones. The top shell, bottom
shell, and sleeve are preferably made of fabric. The sleeve may be
made of impermeable material and may include a sealable hole to
store wet or particularly odorous items. The travel device
advantageously is capable of storing both clean and dirty clothes
at the same time while also functioning as a comfortable
pillow.
Inventors: |
Coury; Dustin (Los Angeles,
CA) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Coury; Dustin |
Los Angeles |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family
ID: |
62708261 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/394,655 |
Filed: |
December 29, 2016 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20180184776 A1 |
Jul 5, 2018 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45F
4/08 (20130101); A45C 13/03 (20130101); A47G
9/10 (20130101); A45C 13/103 (20130101); A47G
9/1045 (20130101); A45C 13/008 (20130101); A45C
2013/026 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A45C
13/03 (20060101); B65B 5/00 (20060101); A45C
13/10 (20060101); A47G 9/10 (20060101); A45C
13/00 (20060101); A45F 4/08 (20060101); B65B
7/02 (20060101); A45C 13/02 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;53/469 ;493/935 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
www.outdoorgearlab., Dec. 26, 2016,
http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/Camping-Pillow-Reviews (11 pages).
cited by applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Long; Robert F
Assistant Examiner: Madison; Xavier A
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Miller; Todd R.
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A travel device comprising: a rectangular top shell having a
first side, an opposing second side, a first end, and an opposing
second end; a rectangular bottom shell having a first side, an
opposing second side, a first end, and an opposing second end,
wherein the first side of the top shell is fixed to the first side
of the bottom shell; wherein the second side of the top shell is
fixed to the second side of the bottom shell; wherein the first end
of the top shell is removably attached to the first end of the
bottom shell; wherein the second end of the top shell is removably
attached to the second end of the bottom shell; and a tubular
sleeve disposed between the top shell and the bottom shell wherein
the sleeve has a first end and an opposing second end, wherein the
second end of the sleeve has an opening for receiving items inside
the sleeve, wherein the sleeve is attached to the top shell and the
bottom shell approximately midway between the first end and
opposing second end of each shell, and wherein the sleeve is
attached only at the second end of the sleeve.
2. The travel device of claim 1, wherein the first end of the top
shell is removably attached to the first end of the bottom shell
via a zipper.
3. The travel device of claim 1, wherein the sleeve includes a hook
and loop arrangement for closing the sleeve opening.
4. The travel device of claim 3, wherein the sleeve is comprised of
impermeable material.
5. A method of storing clean and dirty clothes at the same time
while keeping them separate, the method comprising: using a
container comprised of a top shell and a bottom shell forming an
interior, wherein the top shell has opposing ends, and wherein the
bottom shell has opposing ends; inserting a sleeve in the interior,
wherein the sleeve has a hole at one end; attaching the sleeve to
the top shell and the bottom shell, wherein the end of the sleeve
having the hole is sewn onto the top shell and the bottom shell
approximately midway between the ends of the top shell and the
bottom shell; placing clean clothes in the container and in the
sleeve; and moving the sleeve to permit dirty clothes to be
separated from clean clothes.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the container includes one or
more zippers for opening or closing the container.
7. The method of claim 5, wherein the sleeve includes a hook and
loop arrangement for closing the hole in the.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the top and bottom shells are
comprised of waterproof material.
Description
BACKGROUND
The present disclosure relates generally to a storage container and
particularly one that may double as a pillow when traveling,
camping, or the like.
SUMMARY
One exemplary embodiment of the disclosed subject matter is a
travel device comprising a top shell, a bottom shell, and a sleeve
attached to the top and bottom shells. The top shell has a first
side, an opposing second side, a first end, and an opposing second
end. The bottom shell has a first side, an opposing second side, a
first end, and an opposing second end. The first side of the top
shell is preferably fixed to the first side of the bottom shell.
The second side of the top shell is preferably fixed to the second
side of the bottom shell. The first end of the top shell is
preferably removably attached to the first end of the bottom shell.
The second end of the top shell is preferably removably attached to
the second end of the bottom shell. The top shell and bottom shell
form an interior when fixed and removably attached to one another.
The sleeve is preferably fixed to the top shell and the bottom
shell in the interior.
The sleeve is preferably fixed to the top shell and bottom shell
approximately midway between the first end and opposing second end
of each. The first end of the top shell is preferably removably
attached to the first end of the bottom shell via a zipper. The
sleeve has a first end and an opposing second end, with the first
end having a sleeve hole. The sleeve hole may include a zipper to
close the sleeve hole. The sleeve may be comprised of impermeable
material.
Another exemplary embodiment of the disclosed subject matter is a
travel device comprising a top shell having a first side, an
opposing second side, a first end, and an opposing second end. The
device further comprises a bottom shell having a first side, an
opposing second side, a first end, and an opposing second end. The
first side of the top shell is attached to the first side of the
bottom shell. The second side of the top shell is attached to the
second side of the bottom shell. The first end of the top shell is
attached to the first end of the bottom shell. The second end of
the top shell is attached to the second end of the bottom shell,
whereby the top and bottom shells create an interior when attached.
The travel device further comprises a sleeve having a top fold and
an opposing bottom fold. The top fold has a first side, an opposing
second side, a first end, and an opposing second end. The bottom
fold has a first side, an opposing second side, a first end, and an
opposing second end. The first side of the top fold is fixed to the
first side of the bottom fold. The second side of the top fold is
fixed to the second side of the bottom fold. The first end of the
top fold is fixed to the first end of the bottom fold. The second
end of the top fold is attached to the top shell. The second end of
the bottom fold is attached to the bottom shell. The second end of
the top fold is preferably fixed to the top shell. The second end
of the bottom fold is also preferably fixed to the bottom shell.
The sleeve has a sleeve hole that may include a zipper to open and
close the sleeve hole.
Another exemplary embodiment of the disclosed subject matter is a
method of storing clean and dirty clothes at the same time while
keeping them separate. The method may comprise creating a container
comprised of a top shell and a bottom shell forming an interior;
inserting a sleeve in the interior, wherein the sleeve has a hole
at one end; attaching the sleeve to the top shell and bottom shell;
placing dirty clothes through the hole in the sleeve to be
contained in the sleeve; and placing clean clothes in the interior
of the container outside of the sleeve. The container preferably
has an opening at one end. The placing dirty clothes step includes
placing the dirty clothes through the opening in the container. The
sleeve preferably includes a zipper, further comprising closing the
hole in the sleeve with the zipper after the placing dirty clothes
in the container.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Some non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the disclosed subject
matter are illustrated in the following drawings. Identical or
duplicate or equivalent or similar structures, elements, or parts
that appear in one or more drawings are generally labeled with the
same reference numeral, optionally with an additional letter or
letters to distinguish between similar objects or variants of
objects, and may not be repeatedly labeled and/or described.
Dimensions of components and features shown in the figures are
chosen for convenience or clarity of presentation. For convenience
or clarity, some elements or structures are not shown or shown only
partially and/or with different perspective or from different point
of views.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the travel device
disclosed herein in an exemplary use situation;
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of certain aspects of the travel device
illustrating the device's top shell, bottom shell, and interior
sleeve;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the device seen in FIG. 2 showing
the interior sleeve of the device in dashed lines;
FIG. 4 is a top view of the travel device shown full with clean
clothes only, wherein the interior sleeve and clothes are in dashed
lines;
FIG. 5 is a top view of the travel device shown full with clean and
dirty clothes, wherein the interior sleeve and clothes are in
dashed lines; and
FIG. 6 is a top view of the travel device shown full with dirty
clothes only, wherein the interior sleeve and clothes are in dashed
lines.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
For many, traveling is fun. For others, traveling is a chore.
Whatever the situation, travel typically requires clean clothes
that inevitably end up dirty. And thus begins the quandary of
whether to pay for hotel laundry service, look for and find a bag
to store the dirty clothes, or just stuff the dirty clothes next to
the clean ones in the luggage.
For hikers or campers, the usual solution to the dirty clothes
problem involves putting dirty clothes at the bottom of the
backpack, followed by clean clothes or other items needed within
easy reach. Those other items may include food, a tent, and a
sleeping bag. If one is feeling the need for luxury without concern
about extra weight, a sleeping mat and a pillow may also be hauled.
For the hiker worried about weight but desiring the mat and the
pillow, these items are typically inflatable. Each such item just
sits there waiting to be taken out of the backpack, inflated, used,
and then deflated. However, for hikers concerned about every ounce,
a pillow usually consists of a jacket balled up and placed on the
ground or inserted into a pocket of a sleeping bag designed to hold
the balled-up jacket.
Accordingly, a travel device that stores both clean and dirty
clothes at the same time while also functioning as a lightweight,
comfortable pillow is desired.
A general non-limiting overview of practicing the present
disclosure is presented below. The overview outlines exemplary
practice of embodiments of the present disclosure, providing a
constructive basis for variant and/or alternative and/or divergent
embodiments, some of which are subsequently described.
FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of the
travel device 10 in an exemplary use situation. As seen in FIG. 1,
such a use situation may include a camping or hiking trip where a
sleeping bag 12 is typically a necessity and a pillow may be
considered a luxury. However, with the travel device 10 in hand, a
user now finds at the ready a lightweight container capable of
holding both clean and dirty clothes in respective compartments
while also doubling as lightweight, comfortable pillow.
FIGS. 2-6 illustrate the novel travel device 10 comprising a top
shell 14, a bottom shell 16, and an interior sleeve 18. Top shell
14, bottom shell 16, and interior sleeve 18 may by made of
microsuede, nylon, or the like. Depending on use, the fabric may
vary. For example, where the travel device 10 is to be used
primarily indoors, then the top and bottom shells 14, 16 may be
made of microsuede or similar material. Where the travel device 10
is to be used primarily outdoors such as for hiking, then the top
and bottom shells 14, 16 may be made from a waterproof material.
Whether for use indoors or outdoors, the interior sleeve 18 is
preferably made from an impermeable material or the like capable of
containing wet or odorous items.
The travel device 10 may be made by sewing or otherwise fixably
attaching a first side 40 of a top shell 14 to a first side 48 of a
bottom shell 16. Similarly, a second side 42 of the top shell 14
may be fixed to a second side 50 of bottom 16. The opposing ends
44, 46, 52, 54 of the top and bottom shells 14, 16, respectively,
are removably attached to one another to create an opening as
needed or to close off of the interior of the device 10. Such an
opening may be seen as opening 32 in FIG. 3. The top and bottom
shells 14, 16 may be removably attached to one another by way of
zippers such as zippers 26, 28 seen in FIG. 3. Zipper 26 typically
comprises a first component 26a adapted to engage with a second
zipper component 26b. Similarly, zipper 28 may be comprised of
first zipper component 28a and mating second zipper component 28b.
In the alternative, only one end of the top and bottom shells 14,
16 may be removably attached, i.e., the other opposing end may be
fixed.
Sleeve 18 comprises a top fold 20 and an opposing bottom fold 22.
The top fold 20 has a first side, an opposing second side, a first
end, and an opposing second end. The bottom fold has a first side,
an opposing second side, a first end, and an opposing second end.
The first side of the top fold 20 is preferably fixed to the first
side of the bottom fold 22. The first end of the top fold 20 is
preferably fixed to the first end of the bottom fold 22. The
opposing second end of the top fold 20 is preferably not fixed to
the opposing second end of the bottom fold to create an opening 24
as seen in FIG. 2. Where the sleeve 18 is to used to contain wet or
particularly odorous items, opening 24 may be sealed or otherwise
closed such as via a zipper, hook and loop arrangement 64, or the
like.
The sleeve 18 is preferably attached to top and bottom shells 14,
16 midway between their opposing ends and most preferably in the
interior of the device 10 formed by attaching the top shell 14 to
the bottom shell 16. The top fold 20 is preferably attached to the
top shell 14. The bottom fold 22 is preferably attached to the
bottom shell 16. The attachment is at the end 62 of the sleeve 18
that has sleeve hole 24 capable of being opened. Sleeve end 62 is
opposite sleeve end 60. This attachment may be fixed such as by
sewing the top shell 14 to the top fold 20 and sewing the bottom
fold 22 to the bottom shell 16. FIG. 4 shows such an arrangement
with stitching 30. In the alternative to being fixed, sleeve 18 may
be removably attached to the top and bottom shells 14, 16 such as
by a hook and loop arrangement or the like. The sleeve 18 is
preferably half the size of the top and bottom shells 14, 16. When
attached at the midpoint between the opposing ends of the shells
14, 16, this size allows sleeve 18 to move from one end to the
other while also creating storage space roughly equivalent to half
the volume of the device 10. In an arrangement where only one end
of the device is capable of being opened, such as via zipper 26
that may create opening 32, then the hole 24 of sleeve 18 should
face the opening 32 created by zipper 26.
FIG. 4 is a top view of the travel device 10 shown full with clean
clothes 34a only, wherein the interior sleeve 18 and clothes 34a
are in dashed lines. As can be seen in FIG. 4, clean clothes 34a
are also contained in the interior of sleeve 18.
FIG. 5 is a top view of the travel device 10 shown full with clean
clothes 34a and dirty clothes 34b, wherein the interior sleeve 18
and clothes 34a and 34b are in dashed lines. As can be seen in FIG.
5, the dirty clothes 34b are contained in the interior of sleeve 18
and thus separated from clean clothes 34a.
FIG. 6 is a top view of the travel device 10 shown full with dirty
clothes 34b only, wherein the interior sleeve 18 and clothes 34b
are in dashed lines. As can be seen in FIG. 6, dirty clothes 34b
are also contained in the interior of sleeve 18.
At the start of a vacation, hiking trip, or the like, a user may
operate the travel device 10 as follows. Zipper 26 is unzipped to
reveal an opening such as opening 32 seen in FIG. 3. In addition or
in the alternative, the zipper 28 at the opposite end may also be
opened. Clean clothes 34a may be placed inside of the device 10 in
sleeve 18, as well as outside the sleeve 18, in amount sufficient
to render a full, comfortable pillow such as that seen in FIG. 4.
Zipper 26 is then zipped back up to close the opening 32. Any clean
clothes 34a that become dirty may be placed into sleeve 18 by
unzipping zipper 28 to create an opening (not shown), inserting
dirty clothes 34b, and then zipping zipper 28 back up as
illustrated in FIG. 5. When only dirty clothes 34b remain such that
the amount of dirty clothes 34b exceeds the storage capacity of
sleeve 18, then the dirty clothes 34b may be placed outside of
sleeve 18 in the interior of device 10 as illustrated in FIG. 6.
Advantageously, as seen in FIG. 5, the user has separated any dirty
clothes from clean one while also creating a working pillow.
While certain embodiments have been described, the embodiments have
been presented by way of example only and are not intended to limit
the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel table leg connection
described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms.
Furthermore, various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the
form of the disclosed elements may be made without departing from
the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their
equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as
would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.
* * * * *
References